WNBA gamers characterised their Thursday assembly with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and possession representatives as a “missed alternative” regardless of expressing hope for future negotiations. The gathering included at the least 40 gamers throughout All-Star Weekend at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The gamers’ union opted out of the present collective bargaining settlement final fall, aiming for a brand new deal by October. Time strain mounts because the league should conduct an enlargement draft for Portland and Toronto franchises forward of the 2026 season.
Either side reportedly agree on household planning and retirement advantages. Nevertheless, main disagreements persist on income sharing, wage construction, and participant prioritization necessities.
The prioritization challenge facilities on whether or not gamers can compete in different leagues like Unequalled or abroad competitions throughout the WNBA offseason. League homeowners need stricter dedication to the WNBA from coaching camp ahead.
“You may’t have exclusivity with out paying for it,” mentioned Napheesa Collier, who co-founded Unequalled.
Union president Nneka Ogwumike mentioned the robust participant turnout ought to have yielded extra progress.
“This was a really historic means for gamers to point out up, and so they understood how massive the second was,” Ogwumike mentioned. “We have been hoping maybe extra can be yielded given the engagement.”
Breanna Stewart referred to as the assembly a “wasted alternative,” citing basic disagreements between preliminary proposals.
“Based mostly on their most up-to-date proposal, we simply aren’t in a position to get to a spot the place we’re really even speaking about the identical factor,” Stewart mentioned.
Gamers emphasize income sharing as transformational given the league’s progress since 2019. The WNBA expanded to 13 groups this yr and plans 18 groups by 2030, whereas franchise valuations have skyrocketed alongside a brand new tv rights deal.
“We wish a bit of all the pie. Not a bit of a part of the pie,” mentioned Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum.
The timeline dispute continues, with gamers claiming they despatched proposals in February whereas the league says it did not obtain amended phrases till April.
